HILLSBORO, Mo. – The Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Jefferson College Foundation in support of the project titled “Slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction in Jefferson County, Missouri.”
The MHC is the only statewide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.
The collaborative multimedia project will educate visitors on the topics of slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction in Jefferson County and it will consist of eight 33-by-81-inch collapsible panels.
Panel One will detail the introduction of slavery into Missouri, the laws that protected it, and the state’s role in the national slavery debate. Panel Two will address daily life for the enslaved including varieties of labor, the “hiring-out” system and community structures. Panels Three and Four will explore abolition and resistance with emphasis placed on the role of Black agency in those processes. Panels Five and Six will address the county’s role in the Civil War. Panels Seven and Eight will examine the political, cultural and economic institutions and processes involved in post-war reconstruction.
The panels will include text, images and audio both in English and Spanish, making them accessible to patrons from a wide variety of backgrounds and abilities. This will be a traveling exhibit available for loan, free of charge, to schools, libraries, historical societies and other organizations with an educational interest in the subject matter. When not on loan, the panels will be on display at Jefferson College.
Project Director and Jefferson College History Professor Joseph Thurman emphasized the project’s student-centered focus.
“At its heart, this multidisciplinary project is about Jefferson College students making connections with our collective past via the art of hands-on historical research and storytelling. Through this project, they will be helping to make the history of our region relevant and accessible to anyone who has an interest in the rich and nuanced history of Jefferson County,” said Thurman.
Jefferson College faculty will lead the research process and curate the final collection of texts, images and audio. Because this will be a collaborative project, faculty will also work closely with Jefferson College students, drawn from a wide range of disciplines including history, English, fine arts and digital communications who will assist with the research, writing and design process.
This project will give students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge and skills to a real-world project, thereby adding authenticity to their learning.
Jefferson College Associate Dean of Humanities Dr. Joanne Fish noted the value of multiple disciplines contributing to one shared outcome.
“We are very excited about the interdisciplinary nature of this project,” said Dr. Fish. “Any time various disciplines work together, it helps authenticate students’ educational experiences.”
For more information about the Missouri Humanities Council grants program, call 314-781-9660 or 800-357-0909, or email clarice@mohumanities.org.
For information on the project, contact Joanne Fish at 636-481-3332 or jfish@jeffco.edu or Joseph Thurman at 636-481-3346 or jthurma1@jeffco.edu.
To learn about the Foundation, please visit https://www.jeffco.edu/foundation
About Jefferson College
Jefferson College is a leading institution of higher education located in Hillsboro, Missouri, dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality learning opportunities. With a mission to serve the educational and workforce needs of the community, Jefferson College offers a wide range of associate degrees, certificate programs, and workforce development initiatives designed to prepare students for success in an ever-evolving economy. Known for its commitment to student success, innovation, and community engagement, Jefferson College fosters a supportive environment that encourages lifelong learning and personal growth for all students. Discover more at www.jeffco.edu.